Dragonfly Painting

How to capture the intricate beauty of a Dragonfly 

According to Wikipedia...it is an insect of the Order Odonata and the suborder Anisopters....from the Greek language  Anisos meaning "uneven" and pteron meaning "wing".

                                                                                Image from Blog "Growing with Science"

Like many people I am fascinated by Dragonflies: from their overall beauty, to their flight patterns and of course capturing that perfect close up image through photography or paint.

 Here are a few pictures taken while walking along the bike path here in Temiscaming, QC. I am not much of a photographer but I was happy to capture a close up image.  So this was the image that inspired a painting.



I started with a palette knife abstract background.

Next was to block in the Dragonfly. I wasn't sure exactly how to capture the intricate pattern of the wings without drawing it in detail. I chose to do  a simpler pattern although in actuality it almost should look like a bee hive pattern.    

Next was to work on the body. My photo was not detailed enough to really capture the finer details but I was more concerned about the overall appearance and that it appeared  somewhat accurate but not full realism. 

The stick, although in the photo, wasn't working in the painting for me. maybe in a different painting , so I chose to paint over and remove it.  

  

This is the final painting.  I like the wings and the body. and the final image is a close up of the Dragonfly. The overall painting is 10 " x 20". 

Have a wonderful day!

Early Mornings

"Dreamer"  

Colour Pencil

Photo credit : Hayley Lang 

Drawing of my daughter Natasha , who is a dreamer, full of possibility , endless imagination and an old soul.  Someone who embraces life...enjoys life....a wood nymph roaming through the forest, a triathlete taking on physical challenges, a caregiver of young children including a young brother who is her best friend and who adores her, and an empathetic soul. One  who has supported  a family member , struggling through the challenges of  cancer and never left her side.  

        There is nothing sweeter than waking up early and capturing the sunrise and embracing the early morning silence  that is soon  filled with the chatter of birds as they wake up. I like to savour  my coffee and contemplate life. I am a dreamer as well  and I love it because I love all the possibilities. Will all theses dreams come to fruition? Not likely but they inspire hope, the concept of no boundaries and they give wings to a creative soul.

     I am a quiet person who can be lost in her thoughts. I am an introvert which  I embrace as it is how I energise myself. I used to feel bad about being quiet, shy, alone,  but I now appreciate it is just who I am and maybe this is why art and creativity is a necessary part of my life. A moment to be by myself, recharging and allow my imagination or ideas to spill out onto a canvas.

The Sun is Shining

My soul is free, 

The sky is limitless, 

Full of possibilities

I pick up a brush

An empty canvas

Fearful yet exhilarated

The unknown

With each stroke of paint

A line in a story

A story with defined edges

We know how this will end

A story that is so complicated

We push away to rethink

A story that makes us smile

Simple and heart-warming

A story that carves deep scars

requiring the utmost of care to survive

A story that is whimsical, 

The paintbrush dancing across the canvas

A story full of passion

The brush strokes bold and expressive 

Have a wonderful day! Embrace the person you  are and appreciate that there is always  more  then what we see on the surface: the tip of an iceberg.  Each person has a story, it may sound cliche but it is a saying I often refer to :


"You'll never really know someone till you walk a mile in their shoes"

Algonquin Park Resident

Algonquin park is a yearly camping event. Often we would meet up with family and settle down at Kearney Lake.  The beauty of Kearney  is that there are no motor boats...not that there is anything wrong with motor boats. But it is wonderful to go out on a canoe or kayak and not hear or feel  the rumbling of a motor on the water or feel the waves generated by the  motor boat as they fly by oblivious to the canoeists trying to photograph the glass like reflections on the still waters. There is nothing like the zen like silence in the early mornings, except for the birds and the water tricking  from your paddle as you glide through the water in search of wildlife.  I really can't wait to go back.

Kearney Lake  carries so many memories of  family, adventure, a baby shower, and a reminder to slow down and  be present.  The "apparent " moose sighting , the three legged bear,  the canoe /rafting encounter with a large moose in the water, the charging of a moose , the  deer swimming, the bird watching and all the hikes.  I believe we have done all the main hikes off the Algonquin corridor.

So much of my enjoyment while on the lake is photographing any wildlife I see. I am not a skilled photographer but I have managed to capture some wonderful memories of the excitement of witnessing wildlife in it's natural setting. 

As a painter , I am not looking for the best shot but many shots  to help portray my subject on canvas. I like detail  and although in certain paintings strive for some level of realism, sometimes it is a mix of realism  in the details, but then sometimes color will win out . 

My most recent painting is  of a Bull frog, the photograph taken by my daughter  and I may have taken a few , not sure. My daughter is an artist as well  and we both are trying to capture  the perfect photo, short of hanging off an embankment.  So as much as i would love to see a bear or lynx  and capture that detailed photo , I am just as excited to see smaller creatures like frogs,  turtles, butterflies and my favourite the dragonfly.   Below are some more recent paintings. The Mandarin Duck is not native to Canada but i was so taken by it's gorgeous colours  when I was  at Disney in Florida that I had to photograph for a painting (Native to Japan). The moose painting was from the collection of moose photos taken over the years and this one just a play with complementary colours.  The Bullfrog was from our last Algonquin trip. Although i cannot remember the hike ...no doubt my daughter will. So here are a few shots of the work in progress. 

This year so far have managed to take photos of moose , bear and a giant snapping turtle , locally.  My daughter managed to get the best photo of a bear that  I will use in a painting  ...if she doesn't. 

Have a Super Day!!!

New Painting in the Works

I have started with a 16 x 20 canvas. Painted in a muted green background. Then started some background trees. Not  quite happy with placement  but of course flat with no real background or foreground: no dimension to the early stages.  

Outlining more how the trees will be painted  and placement of the Blue jay. I love the sound of the Blue jay , in particular in the fall although always a nice sound when out running in the early morning.  My Mom also had a preference for the Blue jay and that has always made the Blue jay even more dear to me. 

Initially i was going to do a Maple tree based on photo reference from my backyard pics but opted to switch to Birch Trees. I am trying to learn how to paint them  highly textured with details and getting the right lighting. 

I had done a small painting of birch trees that i particularly liked  with respect to coloring and details  so using it to help me with the trees . Of course i just have to look in my backyard and do some field sketches. 

 Regarding the Blue jay:A tip from another  artist was to create a clay sculpture of a bird and then shine a light source to assess shadows. I may try this . Not much of a sculpture artist,  but don't need details, just overall shape. 

The bird image I like because it captures  a characteristic of the Blue jay: Perched on a branch staring down, observing.

This painting was done a year or so ago and recently sold.  The new painting  may be using the same photo reference but will have a new look with the Birch tree background and of course  each painting always unique. 

Take the time to enjoy these summer days, observe, listen  and capture the essence of  of a summer day on canvas. 

Plein Air Painting

Plein Air Painting

Maybe this is the summer to explore Plein Air Painting. I will be working with the APHTK this summer, in Temiscaming , on Thursdays : Art in the Park. This is  part of an art in community program and although specific to this group open for people to join in or come watch. It is not an art class but an opportunity for the group to explore different mediums, explore working in open spaces  (this will be fun)  and feel empowered through their own creativity. We will have fun! Samples of work that they have done already.

         









Aside from our Thursday outings I would like to start some Plein Air Painting for myself to work on lighting and spontaneity and my drawing/painting skills.  So what are the challenges??? Well we know living here, the biggest challenge to outdoor activities is the BUGS!

Black flies, mosquitoes, no-can- see'ems, horseflies, deer flies and these miniature flies(don't know what they are called but they bite..usually later in the season) and any other????? Think that is enough anyway.  So if you can handle those, the  next challenge would be the WEATHER.I am not set up to paint in the rain so I won't, although...there is something so magical about a misty rain...but also magical right after a rainfall. Maybe i need something like this.

















 Next challenge , SUPPLIES....need equipment that is portable.

I'll work on that.  Final challenge.Having PEOPLE WITNESS YOUR BLUNDERS on canvas...not everyone knows how art goes through the stages of the good , the bad and the ugly...hopefully to return to the Fabulous!

 I have had a few opportunities to have people watch as I paint...it can be difficult but I am trying to get used to it and not let it stop me from doing what I would like to do.


So maybe you will see me out there while on your walk: maybe in the Park, on the Bike Path, by the Falls or in my own front yard painting up a storm. Drop by , say Hello and be kind if the painting is in that dreaded "Ugly" stage...trust that it will resurface as a masterpiece...maybe :)

Have a Super Day

When to put the Paint Brush down

At this point this is the final piece. A palette knife /brush  16 x 20 acrylic painting of a sleepy owl  peeking out of a hollowed out tree. 

Let's look at other versions.

This is early stage of " laying down colour and not sure where I am going".

Trying to define but now happy with eyes and overall look.

Adjusted the eyes and made the beak smaller.  I kinda like this one . Colouring is  too blue, but that is the lighting when  the painting was photographed. 

Chose  to warm it up abit and add some eyelids.  Two different looks but both cute.   Sometimes you have to decide to put the brush down  and maybe try a new one. 

On the other hand sometimes you have to risk altering a painting to create what really works for you. 

Tried to do all with palette knife but added in  a liner brush for some detailing. 

Fun project. Oh yeah also added some glow in the dark paint. See if it works later. :)

Have a super week!

Colour Schemes

Colour Choices

As you start to develop your work you may find you are drawn to a certain style, certain medium and or certain colours.  These are all in Acrylic and the similarity is in the colour scheme. Do you find certain colours dominate in your work? 

Why do these colours work together ? Complementary colours . Whether I am working with orange or orange-red /or red-orange I will use blue, blue -green or green -blue changing the emphasis. 

Trying to look at my work and see other similarities in use of colour.

When we are not sure we have a particular style , it may be in the colour choices , that colours that resonate in your work.


Have a Super Day!